Ohio State countdown: Similar teams, different looks, makes for tight game

10. At first glance, the matchup between Ohio State and Wisconsin looks like a battle of offensive wills. Ohio State’s speedy spread offense against Wisconsin’s basic two tight-end, run-oriented offense. But don’t get sucked into believing the Buckeyes and Badgers are opposites. First and foremost, both want to be able to run the ball. They do it running the same basic plays. The only difference is the formations from which they do it.
9. Wisconsin is going to line up with two and maybe three tight ends at times. They’re going to put sophomore Melvin Gordon (156 yards per game) and senior James White (147) in the backfield and swing that sledgehammer over and over again at the Buckeyes. They’ll run everything from counter-trey to isolation, to trap, to sweeps. But make no mistake, they’re going to want to run the ball.
8. Ohio State will run the same type of stuff, just from the spread. They’ll pound the ball between the tackles with Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith. They’ll attack the corners with zone reads utilizing either Braxton Miller or Kenny Guiton at QB, along with Jordan Hall. And they’ll look to exploit the outside on jet-sweeps to Dontre Wilson. It’s similar to what Wisconsin is trying to accomplish, but with different bells and whistles of a shotgun/pistol spread.
7. Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen isn’t fooled by the packaging of OSU’s offense, maybe because he knows it first hand, having been on the staff of OSU coach Urban Meyer when they were at Utah. Said Andersen: “It’s two very different styles when you look at them pre-snap. But both teams want to be able to run the ball effectively.” OSU center Corey Linsley said: “We definitely run a high-tempo offense. That’s our whole goal. But the physicality as never left.”
6. Statistics through four games show how similar Ohio State and Wisconsin are. While the Badgers are ranked third nationally in rushing (349.8 yards per game), Ohio State is sixth (311). So it goes without saying the front seven on each team’s defense are going to be in the spotlight in this game, because stopping — or at least slowing down — the run is going to play a huge role in who wins this game.
5. Meyer put the responsibility on his team’s front seven this week, saying: “They have not received the challenge yet like this one. This will be the biggest challenge to this point, maybe the rest of the year, for our defensive front seven.” OSU doesn’t want to have to sneak safeties up in run support. Neither does Wisconsin. The team that doesn’t control the run with the front seven leaves deep passing lanes vacated by cheating safeties coming up for run support.
4. The quarterback edge goes to Ohio State, whether it’s Miller or Guiton taking the snaps. Both have shown ability to run the ball, but maybe just as important take advantage of passing opportunities. Wisconsin QB Joel Stave (761 yards passing, six TDs, compared to the Miller-Guiton combo that has combined for 872 yards and 15 touchdowns) hasn’t been as effective. But then again, Stave hasn’t had to because his running game has shouldered the load.
3. Still, Andersen stressed the importance of some semblance of balance. Just like Ohio State knows as much as it wants to run the ball, passing proficiency matters to keep teams honest. Said Andersen of his team: “Is the throwing game a concern? Yes. Is it alarming? I would say no, but it’s a concern, and we want to get better because, again, great running teams, if they have the ability to get those safeties to back off just a little bit, it really helps.”
2. So the bottom line is this: Both Ohio State and Wisconsin want to be physical and run the ball on Saturday — just out of different formations. Both teams need solid play from their front seven. Neither team wants to have to devote their safeties to primary run defense, because the cost could be steep in the way of deep touchdown passes. In short, these are two very similar teams.
1. Similar teams make for close games. All one has to do is look at the past few years. This will be no exception. Prediction, Ohio State 34, Wisconsin 27.